Intolerable Woomera conditions

April 16, 2002. AAP via http://www.news.com.au.

MANY young people in the Woomera detention centre are suffering severe mental problems, a South Australian government report has found.

The report, which followed an inspection by child protection officers after Easter, also raises specific issues relating to the welfare and treatment of children at the outback facility.

Social Justice Minister Stephanie Key said it had prompted her to conclude conditions for children at Woomera were intolerable.

She said the Government also reaffirmed its view children should not be held in mandatory detention.

"Many young people are suffering quite severe mental problems," the report says.

"They are often traumatised by their experiences prior to reaching Australia and they are continually exposed to incidence of violence and self-harm, which leads to symptoms in some children of suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety and disturbing behaviour."

More specifically, the report finds parents were not allowed to feed young toddlers outside set meal times and children did not have access to proper education, being offered only a limited curriculum and restricted school hours.

It also highlights a lack of proper bedding for very young toddlers, which often forced families to sleep on the floor in cramped conditions, and says there was little play room for children.

Ms Key said experts believed the nutritional and developmental needs of children in Woomera were being compromised.

"My assessment is that the conditions are not tolerable," she said.

"The report I have received emphasises to me that this is not a place for children to be.

"It is shocking to think that some of the children who have been detained at Woomera for 12 months or more have never known any other environment.

"If some of these children are to be eventually integrated into normal Australian life, this is not a good start."

The Minister said she, SA Premier Mike Rann and Education Minister Trish White would meet federal Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock in May to discuss the report and seek improvements.

She said the State Government wanted to ensure those improvements were also reflected at the new Baxter detention centre, due to open near Port Augusta mid-year.

"My job is to negotiate the best possible conditions within the power that I've got and that's what I'll be doing," the Minister said.

A member of the Woomera lawyers group, Jeremy Moore, said it was heartening to see the Government taking the issue of conditions at Woomera on board.

"It's wonderful to see them reclaiming Woomera as part of South Australia and making sure, once again, we have decent standards and we don't allow children to be treated like this," he told ABC radio.

"One of the worst things about Woomera is that it's the largest amount of child abuse in the whole of the state and the perpetrator is the Commonwealth Government."